Iowa River Power on 1st Avenue in Coralville is the place to go. I am having my rehearsal dinner there for my wedding.

Other nice options: Tin Roost (North Liberty,) Blackstone (Iowa City, east side), Iowa Chop House (Iowa City, downtown). Those are your premiere locally owned joints that I would consider "upscale." Skip Monica's on 2nd Street in Coralville. The food is good, the owner is a fucking scumbag.

For a fun time after dinner, head to Big Grove Brewery and Taproom on South Gilbert Street in Iowa City. It's awesome, lots of big tables so sit, table/yard games, fire pits outside (when nice enough) and good bar food, plus great local beer.

Shoot me an email if you need anything else, I'm very familiar with the area.

EDIT: Just saw you're going to IRP for brunch the day after. Excellent choice.

Basta and Josephs Steakhouse (probably more pricey than you're looking for) and Orchard Green are all downtown Iowa City and good picks. Definitely make reservations like...yesterday.

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May our caskets be made of hundred-year oak, and may we plant those trees tomorrow.

"The fact of the matter is that in waging a scorched earth, no-holds barred war of 'resistance' against this administration, it is the Left that is engaged in a systematic shredding of norms and undermining the rule of law" - US Attorney General William Barr, November 15, 2019

And just last week we got a white porcelain thing to do your morning ablutions inside the house. Not sure how that is going to work out, it looks difficult to scoop the stuff in the bowl out to carry it to the two holer.

Only restaurants I've eaten at in Iowa City/Coralville are Culvers and McDonald's one time because Culvers was closed as it was Thanksgiving. I've heard there is a university there and things, but I can't see it from I-80, so I can't verify that.